A new blog on 18th century beauty

After some consideration I have decided to start a new blog: Madame Isis’ Toilette, for posts about 18th century beauty and makeup. It may seem excessive as I have several blogs already, but I plan to work my way through as many beauty recipes as possible from the time and a special blog would keep my research sorted for easy access both for myself and for others. It won’t be a high volume blog, but if you are interested in 18th century beauty, then I think it may be worth following. And please, if you know someone else who is, spread the word around.

The look and content is very much as it’s beginning right now, so excuse the current boring look and lack of posts. It will change.

Source: bjws.blogspot.se via Elisa on Pinterest

A plea for powdered hair

To change the colour of the hair with the help of powder wasn’t something invented inthe 18th century, but it was then it reached heights never seen before. The shiny fancy dress white wigs that many connect with the 18th century is an invention of the 19th century and when the silent movie came along, they adopted it. White wigs looks so much better in black and white than a real powdered hair would. Because a powdered hair doesn’t really look stark white. White powder on coloured hair gets various shades of grey.

Source: topofart.com via Elisa on Pinterest

Musings on 18th century beauty

I’m sure you have noticed by now that I have a special interest for 18th century beauty and I’m more and more seriously contemplating on trying more beauty recipes from the time. I was quite delighted recently when I found that Ageless Artifice has several new and interesting items like Spanish white for face makeup and more rouges. Unfortunately I also discovered that the shipping to Sweden now is a whopping $30, which means that the shipping would be more than what I can buy at one time to avoid taxes. So even if I love their products and am very happy that a company like that is around, they are not an option for me anymore. (Shipping inside USA is much lower.) So really, if I want to test old recipes myself, I simply will have to try them out myself.

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com via Elisa on Pinterest

Isis' Wardrobe- now on Facebook as well

A few months ago I made a FB-page for Fashionable Forties and have found that very useful. A nifty way to spread links to other interesting blogs and articles for example, or asking questions that doesn't really warrant a post on their own. So I made one for Isis' Wardrobe as well.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=730838612#!/IsisWardrobe

The girl who didn’t travel with Titanic

Perhaps it would amuse you to hear my own family history about Titanic, even if it is a short one. My maternal grandmother Greta’s family belonged to the working classes and in the early 20th century several members went to USA to try to make a more decent living. It didn’t take, by the 20’s they were all back in Sweden again, but in 1912 one of my grandmother’s aunts, Ingrid, was sent a ticket by her relatives in USA to come. A ticket with, no less, this brand new and fancy ship Titanic. Ingrid didn’t want to go, but you didn’t turn down a ticket to the States, so she went to Southampton to board. There she fell ill in pneumonia and was so ill that she couldn’t travel, so Titanic left without her and she went back to Sweden again. Pneumonia isn’t a song and dance, but for Ingrid it was probably very lucky, as she was a 3rd class passenger and it would have been very likely that she had drowned when the ship sank.

Beauty patches

I have had some fun collecting pictures with women wearing beauty patches from the 17th and 18th century and I thought you may enjoy that too.

Source: theglamourologist.blogspot.se via Elisa on Pinterest

18th century beauty

As of today you can sew a new page on the top of the blog, "18th century beauty", the content being the same as the text here below:

Apart from sewing and interest in the history of fashion, I also have an interest in makeup history, especially the 18th century. I occasionally hold a lecture on the subject for the Society of Gustafs Skål. This page collects links on the subject, both my own posts and others. I will add links as I find them- please, if you have a link you think should be included, tell me!


Articles from this blog

White skin and powdered hair 18th century beauty and makeup ideals.

The 18th century me An 18th century makeup made with as period correct makeup as possible.

More 18th century makeup An 18th century makeup with modern makeup.

A review on Ageless Artifice Ageless Artifice is a company that make beauty products after old recipes. This post is a review on their 18th century collection.

An 18th century hair tutorial A brief tutorial for a higher hairstyle.


Links to elsewhere

Assistants of Beauty, Cosmetics in the Rococo and Empire Eras An overview over makeup used.

Classic Georgian Hairstyle A very nice tutorial.

Hair In German, but the hairstyles often have step by step illustrations. Taken from a later book, so the techniques used may not be 18th century.

The Toilet of Flora A whole 18th century book with various beauty recipes.

Women’s Hairstyles & Cosmetics of the 18th Century: France & England, 1750-1790 An excellent article from Démodé.